JP2009252567A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack which houses a plurality of dry cells and supplies power to a prescribed electronic equipment, in which the number of overcurrent breaking means necessary for cutting off overcurrent due to short circuit is reduced and occurrence of overcurrent is prevented with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The battery pack includes a first and a second battery housing parts 3, 4 to house respectively a plurality of dry cells, a barrier rib 5 which electrically insulates the first and the second battery housing parts, and an electrical circuit in which all the dry cells housed in the first and the second housing parts are connected in series. In the electrical circuit, the terminal of each dry cell of the first battery housing part is connected directly to the terminal of each dry cell or an outer contact terminal of the second battery housing part without going through the other dry cell of the first battery housing part, and an overcurrent breaking member F is installed in all the closed circuits which are formed when a short circuit occurs in any of the adjoining dry cells. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack suitable for use as a power source for an electronic device, and more particularly to a battery pack that prevents overcurrent when a short circuit occurs.

  Electronic devices such as external strobes are widely used that use a battery pack containing a plurality of highly compatible cylindrical dry batteries (alkali dry batteries, manganese dry batteries, etc.) as a power source. In this type of battery pack, if a short circuit occurs for some reason, an overcurrent may occur, which may cause troubles such as heat generation and liquid leakage.

  As a battery pack in which such safety measures have been taken, for example, a case having a battery storage part for detachably storing a battery, and a plurality of external contact terminals provided in the case for supplying electric power from the battery to an electronic device And a fuse (overcurrent interrupting member) is connected in a path of an electric circuit that electrically connects a plurality of external contact terminals in the case (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-9-153352

  By the way, it is common that a cylindrical dry battery is insulated by, for example, covering a negative electrode constituting an outer peripheral portion with a resin tube or the like. However, when a failure occurs in the insulation of the outer peripheral portion of such a dry battery, a short circuit may occur between adjacent dry cells (that is, the outer peripheral portions are in contact with each other) when a plurality of dry batteries are accommodated in the battery pack. is there.

  On the other hand, the prior art described in Patent Document 1 assumes a case where the external contact terminals are short-circuited by a metal accessory or the like when the battery pack is put in a bag or the like. An overcurrent is interrupted by a fuse provided in a path connecting external contact terminals. Therefore, although the above prior art is effective for a short circuit between external contact terminals, there is a problem that it cannot cope with a short circuit occurring between adjacent dry batteries.

  Further, as a modification of the above prior art, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a configuration in which a fuse F is provided between adjacent dry batteries B1 to B4 is conceivable. However, in such a configuration, there is a problem that the number of fuses installed in the electric circuit increases and the cost increases.

  Alternatively, a partition wall may be provided between adjacent dry batteries to insulate them from each other, or adjacent dry batteries may be sufficiently separated from each other for insulation. However, the partition walls provided between the dry batteries are easily damaged when the dry batteries are attached and detached, and there is a problem that the battery pack becomes large when the dry batteries are separated from each other.

  The present invention has been devised in view of such problems of the prior art, and reduces the number of overcurrent interrupting members necessary for interrupting an overcurrent caused by a short circuit while reducing the number of overcurrent interrupting members with a simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack that can prevent generation of current.

  The present invention made to solve the above problems is a battery pack (1) that houses a plurality of dry batteries (B) and supplies power to predetermined electronic devices via external contact terminals (11, 12). The first and second battery accommodating portions (3, 4) for accommodating a plurality of dry batteries, the partition wall (5) for electrically insulating the first and second battery accommodating portions, and the first and first And an electric circuit for connecting all the dry batteries accommodated in the battery accommodating part in series, wherein the electric circuit has terminals of the respective dry batteries in the first battery accommodating part and other dry batteries in the first battery accommodating part. All the closures that can be formed when a short circuit occurs between any of the adjacent dry batteries that are directly connected to the terminals of the dry batteries or the external contact terminals in the second battery housing portion without any intervention. Overcurrent blocking member (F A configuration that is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of overcurrent blocking members necessary for blocking overcurrent caused by a short circuit, and to prevent the occurrence of overcurrent with a simple configuration. In particular, it is effective in preventing overcurrent caused by a short circuit between the outer peripheral portions (negative electrodes) of the dry battery.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing each terminal plate and substrate constituting the electric circuit of the battery pack of FIG.

  The battery pack 1 has a resin main body case 2 that can accommodate four cylindrical dry batteries B1 to B4, and is provided in a mounting opening provided in a predetermined electronic device (not shown) such as an external strobe. Battery power is supplied to the electronic device by being detachably mounted.

  The main body case 2 has a first battery housing part 3 capable of housing two dry batteries B1, B2, and a second battery housing part 4 capable of housing two dry batteries B3, B4. The first and second battery housing parts 3, 4 are electrically insulated from each other while the bottoms thereof are defined by the partition walls 5 separating the battery housing space of the main body case 2 in the vertical direction.

  The first and second battery housing portions 3 and 4 are provided with terminal plates Tp1 to Tp4 for positive electrodes, and these terminal plates Tp1 to Tp4 are exposed from the inner surface side of the front wall 2a of the main body case 2. The batteries B1 to B4 are arranged to be connectable to the positive terminals (b), (h), (d), and (f), respectively. Similarly, terminal plates Tn1 to Tn4 for negative electrodes are provided in the first and second battery housing parts 3 and 4, and these terminal plates Tn1 to Tn4 are provided from the inner surface side of the rear wall 2b of the main body case. It is exposed and arranged so as to be connectable to the negative terminals (a), (g), (c), and (e) of the dry batteries B1 to B4.

  The dry batteries B1 to B4 in the first and second battery housings 3 and 4 are connected in series by an electric circuit (not shown) here. External terminal plates (external contact terminals) 11 and 12 constituting the end of the electric circuit are provided so as to be exposed from the outer surface side of the rear wall 2b of the main body case 2, and the battery pack 1 is mounted on an electronic device. Connected to the terminal on the electronic device side.

  The left and right walls 2c and 2d of the main body case 2 that define the side portions of the first and second battery housing portions 3 and 4, respectively, are curved along the outer circumferential surface of the dry batteries B1 to B4 accommodated. There are provided a plurality of elastic pieces 13 which are elastically engaged with each other. Further, the partition wall 5 is provided with a battery support portion 14 having a curved shape that conforms to the outer peripheral surfaces of the dry cells B1 to B4, and each of the dry cells B1 to B4 is pressed toward the battery support portion 14 by the elastic piece 13. By this, it is stably held in the battery housing parts 3 and 4.

  In addition, a substrate 15 on which a predetermined conductive wiring pattern is formed is provided in the partition wall 5. The positive electrode terminal plates Tp 1 to Tp 4, the negative electrode terminal plates Tn 1 to Tn 4, and the external terminal plate 11 are provided. , 12 are electrically connected to the substrate 15 to form an electric circuit.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical connection path in the battery pack according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram showing a short-circuit occurrence pattern of the battery pack.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the first battery housing part 3, the dry battery B <b> 1 has a positive terminal (b) directly (that is, another dry battery is connected to the negative terminal (c) of the dry battery B <b> 3 of the second battery housing 4). (A) the negative electrode terminal is directly connected to the external terminal plate 11, and the dry battery B2 has the positive electrode terminal (h) directly connected to the external terminal plate 12. The negative electrode terminal (g) is directly connected to the positive electrode terminal (f) of the dry battery B4 of the second battery housing part 4. Here, the electrical connection between the terminals is realized by the wiring pattern of the substrate (the same applies to the other terminals).

  On the other hand, in the 2nd battery accommodating part 4, the positive electrode terminal (d) of dry cell B3 is directly connected to the negative electrode terminal (e) of dry cell B4. A fuse (overcurrent blocking member) F is connected between the positive electrode terminal (d) of the dry battery B3 and the negative electrode terminal (e) of the dry battery B4, so that the outer peripheral portion (negative electrode) of the adjacent dry battery is connected. When a short circuit occurs, it is possible to cut off the overcurrent caused by the short circuit.

  As shown in FIG. 4, (A) a short S <b> 1 between the dry batteries B <b> 1 and B <b> 2 in the first battery housing portion 3, and (B) a second battery as short-circuit occurrence patterns in the electric circuit of the battery pack according to the first embodiment. A short S2 between B3 and B4 in the accommodating portion 4 is conceivable.

  A closed circuit (that is, an electrical path through which an overcurrent can flow) 21 including the dry batteries B1, B3, and B4 is formed by the short S1, and a closed circuit 22 including the dry battery B3 is formed by the short S2. Since the fuse F is provided on the electrical connection path in the closed circuits 21 and 22, it is possible to cut off the overcurrent generated in the closed circuit 21 or the closed circuit 22 due to the short S1 or the short S2. . In addition, as a member which interrupts | blocks an overcurrent, you may use the well-known circuit breaker, polyswitch, etc. which can fulfill | perform the same function not only with a fuse.

  Thus, in the first and second battery accommodating portions, at least one of all the closed circuits 21 and 22 that can be formed when a short circuit occurs between any of the adjacent dry batteries B1 and B2 and between the dry batteries B3 and B4. Since one fuse F is provided, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an overcurrent with a simple configuration while reducing the number of overcurrent cutoff members necessary for interrupting an overcurrent caused by a short circuit. Moreover, according to the said structure, it is not necessary to provide a separate partition wall between dry battery B1, B2 or between dry battery B3, B4, and it does not space apart those dry batteries, and a battery pack does not enlarge.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an electrical connection path of the battery pack according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram showing a short-circuit occurrence portion of the battery pack. In 2nd Embodiment, it shows about the case where the six dry batteries B1-B6 are accommodated in the battery pack 1. FIG. Note that in the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the 1st battery accommodating part 3, the positive electrode terminal (b) and negative electrode terminal (a) of dry cell B1 are directly connected to the negative electrode terminal (c) of dry cell B4 and the external terminal board 11, respectively. The positive terminal (f) and the negative terminal (e) of the dry battery B2 are directly connected to the negative terminal (g) of the dry battery B5 and the positive terminal (d) of the dry battery B4, respectively, and the positive terminal (l) of the dry battery B3 and The negative terminal (k) is directly connected to the external terminal plate 12 and the positive terminal (j) of the dry battery B6, respectively. A first fuse F1 is connected between the negative terminal (e) of the dry battery B2 and the positive terminal (d) of the dry battery B4.

  On the other hand, in the 2nd battery accommodating part 4, the positive electrode terminal (h) of dry cell B5 is directly connected to the negative electrode terminal (i) of dry cell B6. A second fuse F2 is connected between the positive terminal (h) of the dry battery B5 and the negative terminal (i) of the dry battery B6.

  As shown in FIG. 6, as a short-circuit occurrence pattern in the electric circuit of the battery pack according to the second embodiment, (A) a short S1 between dry batteries B1 and B2 in the first battery housing portion 3, and (B) a first battery housing. A short S2 between the dry batteries B2 and B3 in the section 3, (C) a short S3 between the dry batteries B4 and B5 in the second battery housing section 4, and (D) a short S4 between B5 and B6 in the second battery housing section 4. Conceivable.

  A closed circuit 31 including dry batteries B1 and B4 is formed by the short S1, a closed circuit 32 including dry batteries B2, B5 and B6 is formed by the short S2, and a closed circuit 33 including dry batteries B2 and B4 is formed by the short S3. The closed circuit 33 including the dry battery B5 is formed by the short S4.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, since the first fuse F1 is provided on the electrical connection path in the closed circuits 31 and 33, the closed circuit 31 or the short circuit S3 due to the short S1 or the short S3. The overcurrent generated in the closed circuit 33 can be cut off. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6D, the second fuse F2 is provided on the electrical connection path in the closed circuits 32 and 34, so that the closed circuit is caused by the short S2 or the short S4. The overcurrent generated in 32 or the closed circuit 34 can be cut off.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an electrical connection path of the battery pack according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an electric circuit diagram showing a short occurrence portion of the battery pack. In 3rd Embodiment, it shows about the case where the eight dry batteries B1-B8 are accommodated in the battery pack 1. FIG. Note that in the third embodiment, identical symbols are assigned to configurations similar to those in the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the first battery housing part 3, the positive terminal (b) and the negative terminal (a) of the dry battery B1 are directly connected to the negative terminal (c) of the dry battery B5 and the external terminal plate 11, respectively. The positive terminal (f) and the negative terminal (e) of the dry battery B2 are directly connected to the negative terminal (g) of the dry battery B6 and the positive terminal (d) of the dry battery B5, respectively, and the positive terminal (j) of the dry battery B3 and The negative terminal (i) is directly connected to the negative terminal (k) of the dry battery B7 and the positive terminal (h) of the dry battery B6, respectively, and the positive terminal (p) and the negative terminal (o) of the dry battery B4 are each of the dry battery B7. It is directly connected to the external terminal plate 12 and the positive terminal (n) of the dry battery B8. The first fuse F1 is connected between the negative electrode terminal (e) of the dry battery B2 and the positive electrode terminal (d) of the dry battery B5, and the negative terminal (i) of the dry battery B3 and the positive terminal ( h) is connected to the second fuse F2.

  On the other hand, in the 2nd battery accommodating part 4, the positive electrode terminal (l) of dry cell B7 is directly connected to the negative electrode terminal (m) of dry cell B8. A third fuse F3 is connected between the positive terminal (h) of the dry battery B5 and the negative terminal (i) of the dry battery B6.

  As shown in FIG. 8, as a short-circuit occurrence pattern in the electric circuit of the battery pack according to the third embodiment, (A) a short S1 between dry batteries B1 and B2 in the first battery housing portion 3, and (B) a first battery housing. Short circuit S2 between the dry batteries B2 and B3 in the part 3, (C) short circuit S3 between the dry batteries B3 and B4 in the first battery housing part 3, (D) short circuit S4 between B5 and B6 in the second battery housing part 4, ( E) A short S5 between B6 and B7 in the second battery housing part 4 and (F) a short S6 between B7 and B8 in the second battery housing part 4 are conceivable.

  The closed circuit 41 including the dry batteries B1 and B5 is formed by the short S1, the closed circuit 42 including the dry batteries B2 and B6 is formed by the short S2, and the closed circuit 43 including the dry batteries B3, B7, and B8 is formed by the short S3. The closed circuit 44 including the dry batteries B2 and B5 is formed by the short S4, the closed circuit 45 including the dry batteries B3 and B6 is formed by the short S5, and the closed circuit 46 including the dry battery B7 is formed by the short S6. Is done.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8D, since the first fuse F1 is provided on the electrical connection path in the closed circuits 41 and 44, the closed circuit 41 or 44 is caused by the short S1 or the short S4. An overcurrent generated in the closed circuit 44 can be cut off. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8E, since the second fuse F2 is provided on the electrical connection path in the closed circuits 42 and 45, the closed circuit 42 or the short circuit S5 due to the short S2 or the short S5. An overcurrent generated in the closed circuit 45 can be cut off. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 8F, the third fuse F3 is provided on the electrical connection path in the closed circuits 43 and 46, so that the closed circuit is caused by the short S3 or the short S6. 43 or the overcurrent generated in the closed circuit 46 can be cut off.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on specific embodiments, these embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the type and number of dry batteries contained in the battery pack are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as necessary.

The perspective view of the battery pack which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows each terminal board and board | substrate which comprise the electric circuit of the battery pack of FIG. The schematic diagram which shows the electrical connection path | route in the battery pack which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Electrical circuit diagram showing a short-circuit occurrence pattern of the battery pack according to the first embodiment The schematic diagram which shows the electrical connection path | route in the battery pack which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Electrical circuit diagram showing a short-circuit occurrence pattern of the battery pack according to the second embodiment The schematic diagram which shows the electrical connection path | route in the battery pack which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. Electrical circuit diagram showing a short-circuit occurrence pattern of a battery pack according to a third embodiment Explanatory drawing showing the prior art

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery pack 2 Main body case 3 1st battery accommodating part 4 2nd battery accommodating part 5 Bulkhead 11 External terminal board 12 External terminal board 13 Ejection piece 14 Battery support part 15 Board | substrate B1-B8 Dry battery F1-F3 Fuse Tp1-Tp4 Positive electrode Terminal board

Claims (1)

A battery pack that houses a plurality of dry batteries and supplies power to a predetermined electronic device via external contact terminals,
First and second battery accommodating portions for accommodating a plurality of dry cells, and
A partition that electrically insulates the first and second battery housing parts;
An electric circuit for connecting all the dry batteries accommodated in the first and second battery accommodating portions in series,
The electrical circuit is
The terminal of each dry battery in the first battery housing part is directly connected to the terminal of each dry battery or the external contact terminal in the second battery housing part without passing through another dry battery in the first battery housing part. connection,
An overcurrent blocking member is provided in all closed circuits that can be formed when a short circuit occurs between any of the adjacent dry batteries.

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